₦airaland Forum

skubido:
Oya leave ooo.


Tanks for the update

You're welcome..

queenitee:
Eh eh eh, we are a country on our own

I swear.. o.. And we're going global...
So, are you picking only house?

Chapter 30

Realisation
Jerry stared at her as she stopped and remained silent. He wished the silence should continue. Oil dripped to the floor and the wind came in gently, rattling a little empty can.
‘Why…’ Jerry said, smirking after he said so. He wanted to tell her how relieved he was that he knew how he was injured.
‘Why what?’
‘Why did I leave home after I got home? Why didn’t um…. The night thief… I mean Rachael... Why didn’t she kill Once before he tried killing me…?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe you left something at our place. Maybe, you needed to clear your head…She would raise suspicions if she killed Once’.
Jerry shook his head, sighed, and used his oily hand to rub his hair. He shook his head again and rested his back against the wall, heaving heavily.
Not minding her touch, Jerry didn’t flinch when Jessica came near him and didn’t look at her as she stared upward at his creased face. He gazed at the hole from which ray of sun was entering the floor of the workshop. When he looked down, he noticed for the first time since she came closer that she had been rubbing his chest.
‘Bidemi, the past is in the past’.
‘You are right. Can I get away to see my wife?’
Jessica stared at him, her body still resting on his body, transmitting emotional heat into his body. However, he decided to play along, to give her desire, so that he can get his.
Jessica scratched her head.
‘I will help you but I need something from you also’.
Bidemi stared at her and scoffed wondering what he could give her in this little place. Who knows, he might have some skills none was telling him about, one that could help her solve a problem that was bothering her.
‘If it’s within my power’.
‘Yes-‘
‘Then, spit it out’.
She sighed and stared into his face, her eyeballs darting about in their socket as though they were crazy. She kept searching his expressionless face.
‘I want you to make me a mother like Rachael’.
‘Rachael, the Night thief?’
‘Yes, you-‘
‘Do you mean she is-‘
‘Yes’. Jessica said, nodding severally.
‘How?’
‘She called to tell me….’
‘Oh! My God… how do we get her?’
‘She’ll be fine. She can take care of herself and the whole world, if left in her care', Jessica said, her eyes holding his. 'I need you to make me also a mother. I’ve promised myself that I will not allow any other man enter me since the day I saw you’.
Jerry knew where she was going, it was a dangerous path, and he didn’t love threading that path. The last lady he treaded it with kept on panting for more, making him weak.
Seeing she was edging further than resting on his chest, Jerry pushed her gently, nodding and giving her a stare of disgust. Jessica burst into tears, and holding her head in despair, sniffing repeatedly.
‘I need you’
‘I’m sorry’.
At first, Jerry took her for granted but moved nearer when she didn’t stop crying. He edged forward and knew that trouble was looming as he tried to console her, he had a feeling he had had such ordeal and the outcome wasn't favourable.
He drew nearer and true to his fear, she met his lips with hers, not giving him an opportunity to back away.
‘What? What the-‘Chioma shouted.
Bidemi turned. Jessica shifted back. She eyed Chioma severally. The atmosphere was tensed. Chioma stared at Jessica. The colour of her face changed from orange to red.
‘I’m leaving’, Jessica said, cleaning her eyes. Although the doorway was wide enough for her to pass, Jessica hit Chioma’s shoulder. The hit made Chioma turn but she didn’t do anything. Jessica hissed. Jerry noticed the struggled she was having between shouting and bursting into tears.
‘Are you that cheap?’ she said. 'Brostitute'.
She didn’t look at him; instead her eyes were fixed on the wall.’ How will you let her-‘
She hissed and left, the sands crunching.
‘I wanted to tell you-‘she called from outside the shed.’ Scrap it’.
Jerry wanted to shout at her to leave his life, to never ever come back but he stared at the door, swallowing. He could have held himself from Jessica’s trick. Then, it occurred to him that Chioma saved him from Jessica’s trick. And Jessica’s trick saved him from the Chioma’s would-come pressure to have a nice time with him.
However, when the night fell and the time struck 11.00pm, Chioma laid by his side, panting. And, he, regretting every little time he spent with her. But, he couldn’t resist it because she threatened him with life of his son, giving him details on how she would work out his death.
He couldn’t wait in that place anymore. He couldn’t allow his love for cars kill his family. He must leave the house immediately.

Chapter 29
Saviour of the Rain
That day,
Shaking vigorously, Bidemi kept moving in the rain and in the mud of Malachy road.
'Hello,' he said, as he picked his phone that had rung five times earlier,' Darling, I will be home soon'. He used his hand to shield himself from the rain as the wind of the heavy rain rushed towards him.
‘Where are you?’ Grace asked, shouting over the phone,' it’s 11:00pm o'.
‘I know... I know... I will be there soon', he answered with a quivering voice. His belly yearned desperately for a hot, liquid, and sweet substance.
‘I know....’ He said again as Grace disconnected the call.
Bidemi had left home since morning in hope of meeting Chief Thompson, his helper. He wanted to plead with him to give him a little money for his son's school fee but Chief Thompson didn’t return, even after 8.30 in the night when the rain started. And he had to find shelter somewhere till 10.00pm. But when the rain didn’t stop, he left for his house. His car had broken down.
He wanted to get home, wrap himself in the arms of his always-loving wife, and to feel the hug of his beloved handsome son, and then he would share a cup of hot Lipton with his family, if time permitted.
‘Help’, a frail voice filtered-in through the heavy and fierce rain.
He must have heard wrong. The wind that splashed on his thick skin made him increase his speed.
He was shaking vigorously as the cold wind rushed at his chest beneath his wet shirt.
‘Help’, the frail voice cried again.
Bidemi was sure he heard the voice. So, he stood still. The cry came again, jolting him and making him run towards the place the voice was coming from: the canal.
Without thinking of the consequences, he ran towards a car that was slipping into the canal. The car was still dangling near the canal. Bidemi ran towards it and saw a lady trying to come out of the car, but seemed afraid of doing so because moving an inch would shift the weight of the car.
Bidemi held onto the slippery side of the trunk of the car.
‘Come to the rear', he shouted at the lady, who was looking at him as if she was in a trance. He wondered if she couldn’t hear him as the rain and the wind beat him; however, she started moving as he prepared himself to shout again.
She opened the door and jumped out. And immediately, the car jolted forward and crashed, headfirst into the canal, almost pulling Bidemi with him.
‘Thank you', the lady said and fainted.
‘What?' Bidemi shouted as he picked her, and raced for the nearest hospital.
The hours that followed saw him searching through her phone, calling her father, sleeping in the hospital, and later explaining to her father what had happened.
Luckily for him, she was Chief’s daughter, Jessica. He gave Bidemi money and that helped him pay his son’s school fees. And when Chief discovered that Bidemi was good at driving, he offered him a job with a mouth-watery salary.
He wanted to refuse the offer but it was too good to be true. All he needed to was to drive Jessica wherever she ought to be. Despite Jessica’s disapproval and Martha’s strangulating look, Bidemi got the job. He was excited that he would have free time to himself.
When he was introduced to the people of the house, he wondered what they all were doing as business but he allowed his business to be his business, minding what was his: driving. The house itself was fearsome and the people, repulsive.
He decided to be with Rachael and Jessica always.
‘I like Rachael and I think we are getting along well’, Bidemi said to Jessica when she asked how he was coping with Rachael. He knew Rachael from somewhere but he couldn't place his hand. That must have been the reason he felt drawn to her all the time. They even had a code for deceiving Jessica.
‘Yeah, I noticed. She seemed happy, a lot too happy perhaps. As if there’s a sort of connection between you, people‘.
Bidemi raised his eyebrows,’ what are you insinuating?
‘That….’ Jessica said from the back of the car and winked. Bidemi gave her a weak smile and decided to change the topic.
‘So, what are you up to? What exactly do you do, I drive you about but don’t know your work’.
‘I’m more like a do-it-yourself-girl and even fought Baami when he said he wanted to recruit your-‘
‘Ehy-‘She and Bidemi shouted as he swerved out of the road into the bush. Another car missed crashing into them.
‘Suberu…’Bidemi shouted after looking back to confirm Jessica was alright.
‘What does that mean?’ Jessica asked amidst her panting.
‘It’s like an idiot, you know’ Bidemi said as he looked at the rear-view and saw the driver coming out of the car. Nigerian Drivers, they run into one and still come down to fight.
‘Ehy! Bidemi, be careful. My father’s name is Suberu’.
Bidemi swelled as he took his eyes up into the eyelid as if he expected them to appear at the back of the head.
The man that almost ran into them came towards them with an axe. Bidemi rushed out of the car to stop him. He had faced things like this before and knew the best way to counter him.
He faced the man, stood his ground as the man headed for the bonnet, and began to axe it. When Bidemi got nearer, the man swirled with the aim of beheading Bidemi, but Bidemi was faster, he ducked and gave the man a bone-crunching punch at the side.
He was swift and raked the guy, who landed backward. Jessica came out, holding a pistol to the guy’s chest.
‘Stay down there….’ She said almost in a growl. She faced Bidemi,’ what does he want?’
‘Ax the man with the axe’, he said, trying to reduce the tension.
Jessica smirked and bent forward.
‘I didn’t mean to kill him. I didn’t mean to injure him’.
Bidemi hit the axe into the ground.
‘Then, what’s this, a soft drink opener?’
The guy gave a hard-knock look, which made Bidemi cringe within.
‘That was to scare you and tell you to stop working on that thing’.
‘I should blow his crazy head off this minute’, Jessica said with a flared nose and a burning face as she tightened her grip on the gun. She sniffed.
Bidemi nodded as he helped her push the gun away from the guy’s heaving chest. The hot air from the guy’s nose touched his skin, making him scoff.
‘Let me’, Jessica said as she pushed him into the crunching sands.
‘Leave him… At least, I’m the one suffering here’.
Jessica sniffed, heaved and left angrily.
‘Tell them, I’ve stopped. That, this is a big and tall mistake. Now ride off into the sunset and have a nice life’.
The guy scrambled from the ground, racing to his car.
‘That guy is creepy’, Jessica said the moment Bidemi entered the car.’ He should be arrested’.
‘Police do not arrest people for being creepy’, Bidemi said, turning to her,’ what are you? I mean that thing with the gun. Are you a detective or something?’
Jessica scoffed,’ you don’t want to know anything about me. keep driving. By the way, how did you know how to pull that stunt?’
Bidemi smiled at her, and faced the front, his face, glowing with pride. He started the car.
'Last three years, I led some men in an undercover mission against Boko haram sect. We thought we had overcome them until we discovered it was a trap. Only I and one other person escaped. We are still alive, happy and enjoying ourselves or something like that’.
Gradually, their relationship moved from casual friendship to intimate one to the extent that she didn’t like leaving his side, making others think Bidemi was the one clinching to her and made them call him Leech. The name ‘leech’, which Jessica tried, fighting off, stuck to Bidemi like a Leech. One day, happy and contented, Bidemi entered Jessica’s room without knocking and met her naked on the chair.
‘Oh no!’ He exclaimed and turned swiftly. ‘I’m sorry’, he said as he tried to leave the room, but she was faster and seemed stronger.
He pulled her hands off his but they stuck as though they were slimy and sticky. She kissed his torso.
‘I’m married’, he said, trying to move to the door but her will was stronger. He hated situations of lust, he could control half his will at those times, giving whoever it was the opportunity to have her way with him. His wife, Grace used this well to her advantage.
In need of an opportunity to escape, he turned to her, held her gaze with his, and tried to overcome her will but he was wrong, she was high on hard drugs and that had overshadowed her reasoning. He didn’t know how it happened but they were already kissing and before long, he was already down the path he never planned, the path that led to her bed where their desires escalated.
Afterwards, he tried to avoid her but she wouldn’t leave him; in fact, any opportunity would meet him panting by her side on her bed, much to his chagrin.
Then, the eve of his supposed disappearance. It was like the normal Christmas Eve, reeked with a dryness one couldn’t fathom- one that one would want to fill by partying but still finds empty. Sound of fireworks could be heard from far and near and the tantalizing smell of Jollof rice and meat flourished in the air.
Chief organised a get-together and they were enjoying themselves until Bidemi moved away to talk to Chioma. After which, he left for the toilet, followed later by Chioma. Bidemi came out of the bathroom angrily and left for his house.
Jessica didn’t see the need to follow Bidemi because she wanted him to interact with others but she saw the need to hate Chioma with passion, having assurance that he left because she either did something to him or told him something.
‘Jessy, there’s trouble’, Rachael said the moment Jessica sat on one of the sofa with her glass of champagne still in her hand.
‘What happened?’
‘I received a tip from an anonymous fellow, I am sure it’s one of us, that Bidemi will be killed tonight’.
Jessica rose and sat almost immediately, the glass she was holding slipped off her hand. The people around looked towards her direction and returned to their discussions as if nothing happened.
‘Why… Where?’ She said, whispering as she stared at the people partying. Every happiness, in her, deflated like a punctured balloon.
‘I don’t know… Chillex…’
‘What do we do…?’ Jessica said, jittering.’ What do we do, Rash…?
‘Chillex, Jessy, go to the room’.
Jessica stood trembling, her lips doing the same.
‘I’ll follow him. And do everything to save him. Where is he?’ Rachael said and led her through the blaming speakers and the thick smell of alcohol to the door.
‘He left…’
Rachael left that night, followed Bidemi home and waited outside until she saw him coming out of his house again. She followed him and his attacker at a distant. Then, one thing led to another, Bidemi jumped into a river. Rachael dove after him, saved him, took him to a doctor that treated him and under Rachael’s supervision, he was drugged to forget all things. Then, he was injected often with sleeping drugs until till July when she was sure nothing could get at him.
But Rachael always had a plan.

Chapter 28

Jerry laid dazed and battered near a tepee while the silence kept being disturbed by the chirping of insects as they swarmed around him. He looked at them, yinmu and refused to beat them away.
A scrawny, shrieking eternally-singing old bird stood on a pole opposite the workshop and he watched it as he rose to his feeding corner. After eating, he was tired, although tiredness was an emotion he knew he couldn’t afford. The door creaked and her head appeared, making his heart lurch.
‘Jessica… what….?’ He said, raising his voice.
‘Shhh! Let’s talk before Chioma wakes’.
Bidemi nodded as he moved to the back of the room, his leg disturbing a nut case and pouring the nuts to the ground. His hand smelt of grease and it felt like air to him.
‘Do you live here often?’
‘No…’
‘Let’s get to business…’

Chapter 27
Birth of a fire
Grace woke again, lifeless. She was weak and it was better to allow her hands remain on the bed because it made her feel the bed and helped her know she was still alive.
None needed to explain the situation of things to her. She had refused to eat ever since she returned to life the second times, five days ago.
Sleep seemed to be a love of grievance because it came to her intermittently, and transported her to a world of bliss, where she saw herself playing with Bidemi and Ademola.
‘Mummy Demola, You’ve woken. Please rise and eat something’.
Grace couldn’t bring herself to eat anything. The appetite for food died within her and like a phoenix, it gave birth to the appetite to die. Her appetite for food had been swallowed by desire and hatred. Desire to see her son; desire to defame Chief; desire to get Bidemi back into her life. And hatred for Chief for the system.
‘Please, Mummy Demola, rise up’, Mrs. Akintoye, her neighbour said, as she scurried back into the room with fruit salad.
‘Thank you, Mrs Akintoye. I’ll eat today’.
‘Good. I thank God ooo…Some people from your workplace are here, outside. They want to see you’.
Grace nodded.’ I’ll be there’
The worms in her belly jostled for food and made a lot of noise. Blood and nutrients began to move about in her body, strengthening her.
Mrs. Akintoye stood to leave. Grace held her hand,’ Thank you very much… For staying with me these weeks’.
‘What are sisters for?' Mrs. Akintoye said and covered Grace’s hand with her other hand.
A big smile crept across Grace’s face and covered it. ’I think I’m seriously hungry’.
Mrs. Akintoye turned to her and smiled.’ I’ll get you bread and milk to start with. It will repair your worn out tissues’.
Grace replied with a nod, still smiling.
The past few weeks had made her come to the realisation that tears does not resurrect the dead. Grieving does not bring them back. And that it was time to get her husband back.
‘A dead husband is better than a kidnapped one’, she murmured as she moved along the wall towards the bathroom.
Not minding that people were waiting for her, Grace took her time and had a long hot bath and that was the advantage she got from marrying Bidemi. Before they began having financial problem, Bidemi built the luxurious house for massive comfort and she was really enjoying the amenities.
After dressing, she stepped into the parlour in her long peach gown and met Usman and Deroju, her junior colleagues.
‘Mrs. Adeoti’, Deroju cried as she rushed to her side, helping her to seat.
Grace’s face still held the gloom. She hugged and comforted the crying Deroju instead of receiving comfort from her. The hugging lasted for a longer time than expected until Grace smiled and pleaded with Deroju to sit back. They began to discuss. Their discussion moved from commiseration to the reason behind Ademola’s death, and to Fortune City.
‘How’s it going at work?’
Usman and Deroju sighed and gave themselves side-glances. Usman shrugged and rested his back on the chair.
Usman was a plain lanky guy whose only distinctive features are his bald and his goatee. Grace knew something was up, but she decided to wait for their reply, which didn’t come.
‘What’s happening?' She said as Mrs. Akintoye brought the bread and tea. Although Grace love eating at the dining room, she sat there in the parlour.
‘Thousands…’ Deroju said. The sofa made sounds as she took her fat body to the edge.
‘If not more…’ Usman said, shaking his head and opening his palms.
Grace’s eye roamed from one person to another, trying to decipher what was bothering them. From the look of things, she knew the matter should not be probed.
‘Did you hear of the death of Marcus Fijabi?’
Grace shook her head and swallowed hard. She knew Marcus Fijabi, he was an activist who would fight for anything, no matter how small. 'When did he die?’
‘January second. He was found hanging from the ceiling?’ Deroju said, filling her in.
‘Ohhh…’ Grace said with her mouth full.’ Suicide’.
‘So I thought…’
‘As in?’
‘Can you believe I was near the place when it happened?’
‘That’s good. You will be the first to cover the news of course’, Grace said, wondering if she should smile because the people she wanted to smile at looked sad.
‘That’s not good. I noticed that trend after the bomb blast’, Usman said, sitting up and joining his hands.’ We were always the first to know about people’s death. Many bad incidences that had been happening, we knew it first’.
‘That’s true. It's not good’. Grace nodded. She reasoned with Usman. 'What have you done? Have you try finding any evidence’?
‘So, I bugged Oga’s phone and I discovered that we were the one causing the news’.
‘Causing the news… as in?’
‘There are some people causing the accidents, the deaths, the quarrels, the framings…’ Deroju said,’ even the criminals caught...’
Grace swallowed hard, her eyes roaming about in the room, as she remembered every news they had covered. They were always the first, the most credible.
She covered her mouth as she stared at Usman.
‘I know the person doing it. I mean the man behind this evil. It’s our CEO. He caused the bomb blast. He killed my son and is now holding my husband’.
‘Are… Are….’ Deroju said and used her left hand to brush her hair.’ Your husband? I thought… ‘
‘I know… It was a deceit; they made me believe he was dead’.
‘What do we do? I can’t keep working there.’ Usman said.
‘We are starting a real story newspaper, and website. We will be everywhere. The truth will be our only priority. And you will be the E-In-C, Usman’.
A bright smile appeared on Usman’s face. The thought had been lingering on her mind for long but she didn’t have a genuine reason to leave their newspaper company and now was the time to do so.
‘And you, Deroju will be the Deputy’.
Deroju face brightened. Grace felt her heart glowed with pride. All she had to do was to point them to the right direction.
‘You will find your crew, credible people who are ready to die for the truth. And I think the first news you should get is news about what happened before and after the bomb blast. What is the government saying about the event?’.
Usman and Deroju stared at each other and later at Grace.
‘They are-‘Deroju said.
‘The government-‘Usman said. Usman stopped talking.’ You, go first’.
‘No… You… You have the details’.
‘The government have discussed with the federal government and they have decided to fence Greencity round’.
‘That’s impossible’ Grace said, shifting to the edge of the seat.
‘That’s possible. Refused at first, they requested for cessation from being part of Nigeria. And for some absurd, reason their lawyer won the government's own’.
Grace was stunned.’ Does Governor Bolude have such liver? And why will they do that?’
‘That’s what I’m saying’, Deroju lamented. Her voice rose above the sound of the ceiling fan. ‘He’s gullible; there are some people that are pushing Him. He said it was to protect us from boko haram’.
‘We need to know more’.

queenitee:
Are you kidding me? 50+ keh

Yes ooo

germaphobe:
big boss divepen, my granny prefers calling me malachy(i) to michael my real name, but i've come to love the name that in my new neighbourhood everyone knows me as MALACHY(I). So i'm droping it as a name of a guy who lives in green city next to my stranger neighbour

Malachy is noted... Malachy Area or town

doctorexcel:
This story is WOW! Good work loving the story like kilode

I'm happy you love it

tunsky09:
Great work....still waiting for more pls...

Coming nowwwwwwwww

Ann2012:
Maroon city

It'll be a Town

germaphobe:
today i met my neighbour in green city

Lol

Oris4show:
kudos to u ma, I can't hide and read forever, its a great work. I can't hide my feelings for the story, can't wait to have the next update

I'm a sir o. Thanks baba..

Ann2012:
Well done @Divepen

This story Issa banger

Thanks o Ann


You also can have a name in Fortune City

Company name etc... It will recur in the stories..



Cc
Lightqueen

rachealfst:
I don't even know the right adjective to use to qualify this great work. I love this story like........
Divepen! My Oga! Our Oga! Your source of inspiration will never run dry in Jesus name.

Thanks ooo... Amen ma

tunsky09:
Were is the rest of the story....

In the pot....

I'll update it today

queenitee:
It's official, I hate Chioma

Loll...

Eponymous:
Gimme an address first and all other names will be added unto you

Green City

soke02:
Nice write up. More of it please

They will cone your way this coming year...

Eponymous:
Today, I built a house in fortune city, I don't have an address, Divepen1 gimme one

Lol...
You bid for a low thing. When streets, monuments are yet to be named..


There are 50+ books set for Fortune City, we need names na

madjune:
If i may ask, how did a school lay their hands on your unpublished work?

By unpublished, I meant it wasn't out for sale. However, I posted it on my blog, some sites and even Instagram...

SonofHim:
I really love your story. Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece.

I'm happy you loved. You're welcome.

Smooth278:
Enjoyed it...

I'm happy you did.

Lifebender:
Thumbs up, divepen1

Thanks a lot..

ALAYORMII:
Lovely

Thanks boss..

samuelchimmy:
Unfortunately this will not make front page

Loll.. It will at the right time...

Today, 2016
NOAA's father and Mummy Church were killed by Chloe

doggedfighter:
Congregation Divepen,this is just the beginning of great achievements.

Thanks boss...

madjune:
Will they pay you for reviewing your works in class or will they recommend it to the pulitzer committee?

If not, forget it cos you aint making money.

Logically, it's of no effect but having your unpublished work being read in a foreign class speaks to your level of improvement.

Firstgentleman1:
Congratulations bro. This is not just a recognition of your unique talent, but also a testament of your kind heartedness and goodwill.

This is only the begining, because where fate is pushing you to is an unexplored territory.

Amennnnn ooo

dominique:
Congrats mod. This will be a stepping stone to greater recognition. I pray the awesome writers we have on here get the recognition they deserve as well.



Definitely a typo, After all i is next to o on the keyboard

Thanks boss. And Amen to that prayer.

Codes151:
It’s not a big deal! I have more than 1m people using my research, reports, essay and summary for presentation, summary or references

Well, it's a big deal to me o